Cloud
is my (nearly) five-foot-long, male boa constrictor, who is still
growing like a weed at two to three inches every month! There are many kinds
of boa constrictor, with their own size range, coloration, patterns, and even
temperament, but I am unsure of Cloud's heritage as I got him from a pet
store without his papers. He's gained some weight since I last had him
weighed, but he was weighed at four pounds six ounces (1.98 kg) at the vet's
last month. I expect him to max out at six or seven feet and 20-30 pounds
(1.83-2.13 m, 9-13 kg), although eight-foot males aren't unheard of.

When I got Cloud almost two years ago, I knew exactly what snake I would get
as my second. I had already had a ball python for about five years, and I
wanted to get a bit of a larger snake. I also researched my local laws to be
sure that boa constrictors were not included in any snake laws, and I
determined they were perfectly legal and did not require a permit, so I began
looking for one. I went to a pet store nearby who also takes in people's
unwanted pets as well as breeder's unwanted babies. They sell fish and
reptiles there, and the first time I went looking, they had this beautiful
little boa constrictor on display: exactly what I was looking for!

I asked to hold him, and the guy brought him out for me to hold. He had a
very tight grip and was looking right at me as he twisted around my fingers.
He was perfectly healthy; no stuck sheds, no RI, and no sign of injuries or
dryness. We got a good deal on him, because he'd never sold an animal so
quickly. Cloud had only been there for a few months, and acclimated quickly
with me. He stayed in a little five gallon tank (19 l) until I was able to
get a 115 quart (109 l) tub for him to stay in, which he had been in for a
little over a year. We recently made new enclosures for both of my snakes,
measuring six feet long, three feet tall, and two feet wide (1.83 x 0.91 x
0.61 m). They both have been thriving in them, and Cloud has eaten twice
since I introduced him to his new home. He even ate after only being in it
for a few days. He's been exploring the enclosure up and down, and climbing
in his his little tree.

Whenever someone walks by his enclosure, his head pops right out of his hide,
and he'll either watch you with his tongue flicking, or come right up to the
door, watching you. Sometimes he likes to bury himself in his bedding, and
will pop his head up, with a little pile of dirt on his head, whenever he
feels someone approaching. When I bring him out, he'll look me straight in
the eyes and flick his tongue on the tip of my nose before crawling around.
His favorite places to hang out on me are the top of my head, across my
shoulders, and wrapped around my waist. He also loves to go outside in the
sun, and has recently begun to enjoy climbing, which is a common love of many
boa constrictors. He also has a strange fascination with my camera, and will
head straight for it, if it's in front of him, to crawl over it and wrap
around it. He's at the size now where he knocks over even the heaviest
things, and can be difficult to unwrap from things he gets into, because he's
very strong. That's why I like to take him outside where he has plenty of
room to roam without getting into trouble.

He's the more laid-back of the two of my snakes, and won't hiss, even if I
have to bother him while in shed. Shedding time is amusing for me, because he
prefers to shed in his hides, and I get this little ball of shed to unravel.
He enjoys to come out whenever, and can be very persistent when I try to put
him back in. He's also like a trash can, and will eat even if my other one
won't, so he provides a lot of relief for me when I'm always so worried about
if my ball python, Bud, will eat or not.

I am so glad I decided to get him, and he has vastly expanded my love of
snakes, and I hope to add more to my family in the future!